Welt

Abstract

A unit sole construction, including a sole body of molded, rubbery material, and a welt extending along the body, the welt having an exposed upper wall portion, and a tongue portion extending from the wall portion into the body, the tongue being embedded in the body to secure the welt to the body.

I claim: 
     
       1. A unit sole construction, comprising a sole body of molded, rubbery material, having a central top surface for receipt of an upper and a peripheral top surface for receipt of a welt, and   a welt extending along the perimeter of said body, said welt comprising an exposed upper wall portion arranged to cover said peripheral top surface of said sole, and   a tongue portion extending from said wall portion into said body, a tongue being embedded in said body so as to be wholly surrounded by said rubbery material to secure said welt thereto prior to attachment of said upper to said surface,     said welt being free of encroachment onto said central top surface of said sole, so as to avoid reduction of bonding area between said upper and said sole, said welt being free of stitching to said upper.     
     
     
       2. The sole construction of claim 1, wherein said tongue extends from the inner periphery of said wall portion. 
     
     
       3. The sole construction of claim 2 wherein said welt further comprises an exposed flange portion extending from the outer periphery of said wall portion so as to give said welt a J-shaped cross-section with said flange forming the short leg of said J. 
     
     
       4. The sole construction of claim 1 or 3 wherein said tongue portion has a perforation therethrough, and said rubbery material of said body extends into said perforation. 
     
     
       5. The sole construction of claim 1 wherein said welt further comprises stitching in said wall portion. 
     
     
       6. The sole construction of claims 1 or 3 wherein said welt has adhesive on the surfaces thereof in contact with said body. 
     
     
       7. The sole construction of claim 1 wherein said tongue portion extends at least 0.020 inch from said wall portion. 
     
     
       8. The sole construction of claim 3 wherein said tongue portion is at least 0.020 inches longer than said flange portion. 
     
     
       9. The sole construction of claim 8 wherein said flange portion extends at least 0.140 inch from said wall portion. 
     
     
       10. The sole construction of claim 9 wherein said tongue portion extends at least 0.320 inch from said wall portion. 
     
     
       11. A method of manufacturing a unit sole construction, said construction comprising a sole body of molded, rubbery material, having a central top surface for receipt of an upper and a peripheral top surface for receipt of a welt, and   a welt extending along the perimeter of said body, said welt comprising an exposed upper wall portion arranged to cover said peripheral top surface of said sole, and   a tongue portion extending from said wall portion into said body, said method comprising the steps of molding said body around said tongue so as to cause said tongue to be wholly surrounded by said rubbery material to secure said welt thereto prior to attachment of said upper to said surface, and       said welt to be free of encroachment onto said central top surface of said sole, so as to avoid reduction of bonding area between said upper and said sole.   
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of providing a mold having a groove around the periphery thereof adapted to receive said welt,   positioning said welt in said groove, and   injecting rubbery material into said mold to form said sole body and embed said tongue.   
     
     
       13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of providing a mold having a groove around the periphery thereof adapted to receive said welt,   coating said surfaces of said welt with an adhesive and positioning said welt in said groove, and   injecting rubbery material into said mold to form said sole body and embed said tongue.